Thanks for the reviews guys, and thanks to everyone adding this to their favourites or putting it on alert!

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Thanks again to my betas, EvilPumpkin and Angel eyes1 uk. You two are doing a great job of whipping me into shape and I am grateful for your help and suggestions.

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As usual, I own nothing but Daisy.

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Chapter Eleven. Mom Knows Best.

Emmett's POV

When I got Daisy outside she calmed down considerably, so I went for a walk with her. We strayed further and further from the house, until I couldn't hear the music and Daisy had fallen asleep in my arms. I lay down under the shade of a broad tree, tucked Daisy in the crook of my elbow, and stared through the leaves at the sky. I don't know how long we lay there. When Daisy woke up I tickled her and played with her, then as the daylight began to fade, I picked her up and ran home. The music was still blaring, so I quickly grabbed a blanket, some of Daisy's food, and some water, marvelling at what I could do with one arm, and took Daisy back outside to feed her.

Rosalie's POV

I raced upstairs, threw my bag into a closet, kicked off my shoes, and pulled the small flat square package out from under my bed where I stashed it yesterday. I opened it up, tucked the tickets inside, pulled out the paper and ribbon, and began to wrap it up. Still wearing my party dress, I climbed onto the bed and propped myself up on the pillows, making sure the side slit in the dress showed off my legs perfectly. Now all I had to do was wait for Emmett...and along he came, perfect timing.

There was a timid knock on the door, which was definitely not Emmett, then I heard Jasper's voice. "I can't find him, Rose. He must have gone for a run or something."

Esme's POV

Rosalie was on fire! I hadn't seen her this excited in a long while-I just hoped that she wouldn't crash and burn. I needn't have worried; my family had a knack of pulling together in times of trial. When I saw Carlisle and our beautiful sons looking up the stairs at us, I was so proud. It was a wonderful afternoon, especially as Rose managed to get over Emmett leaving with Daisy much easier than I had expected. I was a little worried, later, when she rushed out, until I saw the smug look on Carlisle's face. "Am I missing something, darling?"

"Rosalie has planned a small surprise for Emmett," he whispered in my ear.

"Not all by herself either, I'm guessing," I replied, clutching him tightly as he whirled us both round and round. "What have you two been cooking up?"

"Oh, I only made a phone call-it's all down to Rose, really."

The plot thickened when Rosalie came back, talked briefly with Jasper and then disappeared. A while later, I heard banging. At first I thought it was the rhythm of the bass coming from Alice's stereo, but I soon realised it was coming from upstairs and went to investigate. I found poor Rosalie throwing hairbrushes and shoes-Emmett's, I noticed, not hers-around the bedroom. I surveyed the carnage. There were several dents in the drywall, a powdering of glass where a spotlight had smashed, and a crack in a mirror in the en-suite. What could have brought this on?

Ducking a trainer, I approached it's source. "Rose?"

"What?" she answered sullenly, throwing herself face down on the bed.

Carefully, I sat next to her and gently urged, "Tell me, Rose."

"He's gone!" she wailed into the bedding.

"What do you mean, he's gone?"

Rosalie raised her head to look at me reproachfully. "He's not here-he's with her!"

"With Daisy? He won't have gone far, Rose." I tried to reassure her, but she was sulking.

"I wanted him here and instead he's with that little bitch!"

"Rosalie Lillian Hale! Enough!" I didn't often lose my temper with my children but Rosalie needed shocking out of this. I watched her ugly frown turn to concern, as she discerned my disapproval, tinged with a little shame.

"Oh, Esme!" Rosalie exclaimed. Sitting up and taking my hands, she sobbed, "its just that I had a surprise…wanted to surprise him, and..."

"He doesn't know, Rose. You can't blame him." I hushed her.

"I don't-it's her." Rosalie looked away, but she didn't release her hold on me.

"She didn't ask for this either."

"Hmmph."

"Emmett is trying, Rose." I brushed a lock of hair from her face, and then cupped her cheek as I continued. "Look at the effort he made earlier; he looked wonderful."

"He did, didn't he?" The ghost of a smile flittered across her face as she thought for a while, then she broke out in one of her dazzling beams. "I love that suit, and I was looking forward to taking it off..."

"No more details, please, but yes, a man in a suit is a bit like a present-just asking to be unwrapped." Rosalie chuckled at that.

"I have a present for him, Esme. Jasper was going to look after Daisy, and I was going to give it to him," she said dreamily.

"You can still do that, Rose. Come back down and enjoy the party, I'm sure Emmett's present can wait for tomorrow." With a bit more cajoling and a lot of flattery, I talked Rosalie back downstairs.

Emmett's POV

It seemed the party was going to last all evening. I was worried Daisy might get cold outside, so we ducked back inside for an extra blanket and the hot water bottle. I remembered to wrap the bottle in a blanket and wrapped Daisy up too. Satisfied that she would be warm enough for a while, we returned to our spot outside. When I was sure that Daisy was soundly asleep, I took her home and put her to bed, staying in case the music woke her.

Carlisle's POV

Yet again, I was impressed by my wife's powers of persuasion as I watched her bring Rosalie back into the melee. Esme had a strange look on her face; I flashed her a puzzled glance before offering my arm to Rose-the sooner we distracted her the better. Rosalie was soon the life and soul of the party once more, and I cut in on Edward to dance with Esme. "So, what went on up there?"

"Girl talk, Carlisle."

"What was the look on your face?"

"Rose and I agreeing how nice the suits were," Esme replied innocently.

"Is that all?" I caught a flash of sparkle in her eyes. Ah, I know that look, Esme.

"Rosalie and I don't often agree." I leaned in to kiss my wife before clutching her firmly to spin her round the room. I'll find out later then, and I think I'm looking forward to it.

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AN. This really is a rollercoaster ride for poor Rosalie, isn't it? I'm afraid she has more ups and downs to come. How do you think she's bearing up?